Price, 25 Cents 



A Strike 
in Santa Land 

A PLAY IN ONE ACT 



By 
EFFA E. PRESTON 




PAINE PUBLISHING CO. 

DAYTON, OHIO 



; 
? 



Song Specialties for Your 
Entertainments 

i 

I Teachers are discovering that no matter how 

t much novelty there is in their entertain- 

j ment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly 

: drilled, if they want to hold the active interest 

? of the audience they must use the best of songs^ 

I The songs must be real novelties. The words 

i must be interesting as well as decidedly clever. 

I The music must be catchy and abounding in rich 

? melody. With these things in mind we have 

I prepared this list of superior song novelties for 

t our patrons. All are in regular sheet music form. 



Price, 35 cents each; 5 for $1.25 



t WELCOME SONGS 

I We've Just Arrived from Bashful Town. 

I We Hope YouVe Brought Your Smiles 

I Along. 

I Come and Partake of OurWelcome Cake, 

t We're Very Glad to See You Here. 

I With Quaking Hearts We WelcomeYou. 



I CLOSING SONGS 

: 

I Mr. Sun and Mrs. Moon. 

I Now, Aren't You Glad You Came? 

I We Do Not Like to Say Goodbye. 

I We'll Now Have to Say Goodbye. 
• 

t • 

I Paine Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio 



A Strike in Santa Land 

A Play in One Act 



BY 

EFFA E. PRESTON 



PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
DAYTON, OHIO 



A Strike in Santa Land ,.^<^{^Z^ 

CHARACTERS' AND COSTUMES ^ ^'^*^^ 

Santa Claus — Regulation costume. 

Mrs. SIanta Claus — Girl in dark dress, white apron and cap, wears 
spectacles. 

Browme — iS'inall boy in brown cambric suit cut like pajamas. 

Tix Sorj>iERs — Two small boys dressed in soldier suits, one dressed 
as private — boy scout suit — tlie other as a general. fSew gold 
lace, etc., on scout suit. 

^OOKS — Five girls dressed in white, wearing from string about neck 
a huge black poster on which, in bright letters, is name of book 
represented. 

Jumping Jack — Boy in blue or red suit, long stick fastened to 
back, string hanging from it. He moves in a very jerky fashion. 

Top — Small boy or girl, plump, in bright-colored dress, with gay 
stripes running around it. Stripes made by sewing on strips of 
bright-colored cloth. 

Doll — Pretty little girl beautifully dressed. Moves in stiff fashion, 
talks mechanically. 

Fountaix Pen — Tall boy dressed in black cambric suit cut straiglit 
from neck to feet, gold band represented by strip of yellow cloth 
sewed around suit. A pen point out from black or yellow card- 
l)oard is fastened at back of neck. 

Tree — Boy or girl in green suit trimmed with branches of evergreen. 

Time of Playing — About twenty minutes. 



Copyright, 1922, by 
L. M. Paine 



SEP 29 ?2 ©C1A687052 



^Uvo 



A Strike in Santa Land 

Stage represents a room in Santa's house. Packages well tied 
up are piled in the back of the stage. Santa appears ready to 
start on his annual journey. 

Santa : My, I 'in tired. I 'm glad Christmas comes but 
once a year or I never could stand the excitement. 

Mrs. Santa [entering] ; Santa^ it's almost time to start. 

SANTA: Are the reindeer ready and is everything packed? 

Mrs. Santa : Yes, I think so. 

Santa : I've tried trains and autos and airships but none 
of them suit me like my faithful old reindeer. I don't 
have to steer them up the chimneys. They know just 
where to go. 

Brownie [entering] : Well, Santa, everything is ready 
for your trip but I have some unpleasant news for yoa. 

Santa : Unpleasant news^ — that's strange. Here in Santa- 
land we never hear unpleasant things for they never 
happen. What is it Jack-op All-Trades? 

Brownie : Some of the very nicest toys we have made 
this whole year refuse to be packed. They say they will 
not leave Santa-land and go to earth. 

Santa : Well ! Well ! Well ! What do you think of that, 
Mother? 

Mrs. Santa : Santa, be firm. You're entirely too easy 
with them. They'll all be wanting to stay next year if 
you don't make these toys go. 

Santa : Of course, there are toys enough without these. 

Brownie : You always find some extra children you didn't 
know about. 

3 



4 A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 

Mrs. Santa : Certainly you do, Brownie, send the 
naughty toys in one at a time and we will hear what they 
have to say. Now, Santa, be firm. You are so kind 
hearted if a doll cries you'll let her have her way. 

SANTA: Now, Mother, you're as bad as I am. 

Brownie goes out and two tin soldiers enter, walking stiffly 
and moving exactly together. They salute as they come 
to standstll. 

Santa : What's this I hear? Why aren't you packed? 

First Soldier: I don't want to be given to any child. 
Suppose I should not be properly treated. A careless 
boy might not treat me according to my rank. I am a 
general — suppose a private soldier was placed in front 
of me. Suppose he was given the best place in our box. 
I never could stand that. What a fate for a General. 



Second Soldier: Santa Glaus, I am a private soldier 
and I am proud of it. The Brownie who made me did a 
fine job. Just see how well my uniform fits. I'm just 
as proud as the General. I will not associate with 
soldiers I have to salute all the time and wait on. If I 
got put in the box with a General I wouldn't like it any 
more than he would. Children are very careless. Some- 
thing unpleasant might easily happen. I think it best 
for me to stay right here. The Brownies can use me as 
a pattern next Christmas. 

Santa : This is very strange. I never dreamed that you 
toys didn't get on perfectly well. After this I'll put all 
the officers in one box and all the common soldiers in 
another. 

Brownie hrings in five girls who represent hooks. They 
sing — 

Song— Air: MY BONNIE 



a strike in santa l»and 5 

First Book : 

We're Books filled' with stories and pictures. 

We want to stay spotless and clean. 
And not become dog eared and dirty 

Like most story books you have seen. 

Chorus: 

We want to stay 

Right here in Santa Claus Land, we do. 

We want to stay 

Right here in Santa Claus Land. 

Second Book : 

We'll not be marked up by bad children*— 

Our pages all mislaid and worn. 
All sticky with jelly and candy, 
Our beautiful pictures all torn. 

First Book : I 'm Anderson 's Fairy Tales. I have the 
loveliest stories in me — all the Ugly Duckling and the 
Shoes that Danced, and the po'or little Match Girl. 

Second Book: I'm the Just-So Stories. Oh, how funny 
I am. I tell about how the Elephant got his trunk, how 
the Camel got his hump, and about man's first friend, 
the dog. 

Third Book: I am Alice in Wonderland. You'll just love 
Alice. Everybody does. The White Rabbit is the 
sweetest thing. 

Fourth Book : I tell about Robinson Crusoe. I 'm awfully 
exciting. A boy would like me for Christmas but he 
won't get me. 

Fifth Book: I'm Little Women — with a lovely binding 
and lots of pictures. The little girls' grandmothers read 
and liked me for I am a book that never gets old. I 
have earned a vacation so I shall stay home this Christ- 
mas. 



6 A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 

Santa : Dear me, This is very annoying. 
Mrs. Santa : Be firm. Be firm. 

Brownie h rings in a Jumping Jack. 

Jumping- Jack : Santa, I'm sorry to seem fussy but 1 
really can't go out this year. How would you like to be 
capering like this [jerks about] every time someone 
pulled a string. Folks think a Jumping- J ack^s arms 
and legs never get tired but I want to tell you they do. 

Santa and Mrs. Santa [together] : Poor thing. 

Brownie brings in Top. 

Top [spinning round and round] : Santa, I'm so dizzy 
my head will fly off. After I was made all the Brownies 
in the workshop kept spinning me just because I have 
such a sweet hum. If I have to be put on a Christmas 
tree and be played with all day tomorrow I shall spin 
myself to death. I expect to stay right here, Santa. 

Mrs. Santa : But it isn't hard work to spin. 

TOP: You just try it for a day, dear Mrs. Sant^* 

Brownie brings in beautiful doll. 

DoLL: I suppose you're cross, Santa, but I can't help it. 
I have heard the most terrible stories about the way dolls 
are treated by careless little girls. They have their lovely 
curls torn off and their eyes are poked in by little girl's 
fingers. They are left outdoors in the sun and rain and 
that spoils the complexion. It took two days to make my 
complexion and I will not have it spoiled. Think of 
having this lovely dress made dirty by sticky fingers. 
You and Mrs. Santa will be lonesome. You really need 
me any way. I have named myself since I do not intend 
that any child shall have a chance to name me. 

Brownie : What is your name ? 



A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 7 

Doll : It is beautiful. Gwendolyn Geraldine Genevieve 
Arabella. Isn't that a delightful name? 

Brownie : I shall call you Jerry for short. I can't re- 
member all that list. 

DoLL: JACK-OF All Trades, you'll address, me by my 
proper name or not at all. 

SANTA: Don't quarrel. He won't call you anything for 
you won't be here. [Doll ct^ies.] 

Brownie brings in Fountain Pen. 

Pen: Santa, I'm entirely too smart to give away. I can 
write wonderful things. 

SANTA: What have you written? 

PENr 1*11 say my last poem for you. I just wrote it ou 
my box lid. It is what a little boy said at a Christmas 
entertainment and it's about you. 

Mrs. Santa : Say it for us, Pen. 

Pen [Recites] : 

Last Christmas eve, at twelve o'clock — 

I know 'twas very shocking — 
I tried to see dear Santa Claus, 

The while he filled my stocking. 

I hid within the chimney nook 

And chuckled Avith elation 
To think how Santa ^d be surprised 

And filled with consternation. 

But, later, Santa was amused, 

'Twas he who did the peeping. 
I never saw how Santa looked, 

Alas, he found me sleeping. 



3 A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 

Santa : Ha I Ha ! They never catch old Santa napping. 
Every year some child tries to see me fill his stocking 
but it's no use. It can't be done. 

Pen : You can see for yourself, Santa, that you need 
some one like me with you all the time. If I can write 
verses like that think how beautifully I could answer the 
millions of letters you get every year from the children 
all over the world. You need me Santa. Don't think 
of sending me away. 

SANTA: Well, Pen I've answered letters without you for 
a great many years, but perhaps you are right. 

Mrs. Santa : Santa, be firm, be firm. 

1 
Brownie brings in Christmas Tree, crying. 

Tree: I won't be trimmed. I won't be trimmed. I don't 
want things hung on me. I hate candles. I don't want 
tinsel strung over my branches. Those silly toys will be 
stuck all over me. I won't be a Christmas Tree, so 
there. 

All the Toys: We're not going away. Don't worry. 
We don't expect to be hung on any tree. 

Santa : You poor little tree — stop crying. You and the 
Toys may stay with me till next year. 

Tree and Toys: Oh, thank you, Santa. You are a dear. 

Mrs. Santa : There, I knew he wouldn't be firm. He 
spoils them all. 

Tree and Toys retire io rear of stage and appear to talk 
together. 

Enter Brownie. 

Brownie : Oh, Santa, I have just received a terrible mes- 
sage on the wireless, from a little settlement in Alaska. 

Santa : AYhat is it? What is it? 



A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 9 

Brownie : The message was sent by your helper, Fleet- 
Foot. He learned just an hour ago that there is a family 
living in the little settlement that was not counted when 
he made his census. There are two children — a boy and 
a girl, both very small. 

Mrs, Santa : Fo'or little things, and no presents left for 
them. 

SANTA: No, I must start in five minutes. There's no time 
to make anything for them now. 

Brownie : There's nothing left in the workshop. I just 
looked. It's a shame. Fleet-Foot says they are such 
nice children. 

During all this co)iversatlon the Tree and the Toys have 
heen listening very carefully . They come forward. 

TREE: How many children, did you say? 

Brownie : Two — very nice ones. 

Soldiers [together] : Do you think they could tell a Gen- 
eral from a private ? 

DOLL: Does the little girl have clean hands? 

Pen : I suppose the parents might appreciate my poetry. 

ToP: Nights are long in Alaska. They would spin me 
only in the daytime I suppose. 

JUMPiNG-jACK : One reason why I wanted to stay here 
was because of the climate. It's cold in Alaska, too, 
isn't it Santa? 

Santa : Yes, my child, yes. 

Books [together] : You think we ought to go, don't you, 
Santa ? 



10 A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND 

Santa : My dear Toys, I leave it to your consciences. Do 
you like to think of those two little children way up in 
Alaska doing without any Christmas gifts because you 
were selfish 1 

Toys and Tree [together] : Oh, Santa, you always get us 
to do just what you want us to anyway. 

Tree: Come on, folks, we might as well go in and be 
packed. There's nothing else to do. 

Toys: Yes, come on. 

Mrs. Santa : I'm s'o glad Santa was firm. 

Santa : Before we go let's sing one song together — a good 
old Christmas song. 

Tree and Toys: All right. 

All sing- 
Air; SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP 

1 — Blow, cold winds, blow 
Across the drifting snow. 
The Christmas bells chime sweet and clear 
Like fairy music to the ear, 
Blow, cold winds, blow. 

2— Sing, gayly sing 

Make all the echoes ring. 
Since Christmas comes but once a year 
We'll celebrate with right good cheer. 
Sing, gayly sing. 

3 — Glow, hearth fires, glow. 

The Christmas lights are low. 
The Yule log's almost burned away — 
At dawn the ashes will be gray. 
Glow, hearthfires, glow. 

CURTAIN 



Entertainments for All Occasions 



Special Day Entertainments 

BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES— Irish $0.40 

CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYS— Irish 40 

CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS— Irish 40 

CHRISTMAS AT MCCARTHYS'— Guptill 25 

CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN HOLLER— Guptill 25 

CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN'S— Irish 25 

CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN' AT SKAGGS' SKULE— Irish 25 

IN A TOY SHOP— Preston 25 

THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOK— Irish 40 

PUMPKIN PIE PETER— Irish 25 

THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH— Irish 25 

SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMAS— Preston 25 

A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND— Preston 25 

A THANKSGIVING CONSPIRACY— Irish 25 

A THANKSGIVING DREAM— Preston 25 

A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMAS— Guptill 25 

Dialogues and Children's Plays 

ALL IN A GARDEN FAIR— Wilbur $0.25 

DOLLS ON DRESS PARADE— Preston 25 

A PARTY IN MOTHER GOOSE LAND— Preston 25 

SNAPPY HUMOROUS DIALOGUES— Irish .40 

Recitations and Pantomimes 

CATCHY PRIMARY RECITATIONS— Irish $0.30 

OLD TIME SONGS PANTOMIMED— Irish 40 

Plays 

THE DEAREST THING IN BOOTS— MacKenzie $0.25 

THE GREAT CHICKEN STEALING CASE OF EBENEZER 

COUNTY— Richardson 25 

THE GREAT WHISKEY STEALING CASE— Richardson 25 

MISS JANIE; OR, THE CURTAILED COURTSHIP— Bonham. .25 

THAT AWFUL LETTER— MacKejizie 25 

THE UNEXPECTED GUEST— ^lacKenzie 25 

Monologues 

AS OUR WASHWOMAN SEES IT— MacKenzie $0.25 

ASK OUIJA— MacKenzie 25 

THE COUNTRY COUSIN SPEAKS HER MIND— MacKenzie . . .25 

GLADYS REVIEWS THE DANCE— MacKenzie .25 

I'M ENGAGED— MacKenzie 25 

SHE SAYS SHE STUDIES— MacKenzie 25 

SUSAN GETS READY FOR CHURCH— MacKenzie 25 



•..«..•..»..•..«..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•..•■••..•..•.••..•..••••..•..•••••.•»•••••••••••••-•"••••••••••"••••"•"••••■• 

PAINE PUBLISHING CO. Dayton, Ohio 



Entertainments for Christmas 



CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS By Marie Irish 

For children of all grades. Contents: 50 recitations, 8 mono- 
logues, 11 plays and dialogues, 5 drills and marches, 8 tableaux. 
4 pantomimes, 8 pantomimed carols, 8 songs, etc. Price, 40 cents. 

THE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS BOOK By Marie Irish 

For children under ten years of age. Contents: 68 recitations, 
12 exercises, 7 songs, 6 drills, 12 dialogues and plays, 9 pantomimes. 
Price, 40 cents. 

BEST CHRISTMAS PANTOMIMES By Marie Irish 

Twelve pantomimes, each accompanied by complete words, 
directions and music. Some are serious and some are in a lighter 
vein. Price, 40 cents. 

CHOICE CHRISTMAS DIALOGUES AND PLAYS... By Marie Irish 

Ten dialogues for Primary Grades, 10 dialogues for Intermediate 
Grades and 8 plays for Grammar Grades. Price, 40 cents. 

CHRISTMAS AT MCCARTHYS' By Elizabeth F. Guptill 

Brimful of fun and Christmas spirit. For any number of young 
folks and children. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents. 

CHRISTMAS AT PUMPKIN' HOLLER By Elizabeth F. GuptiU 

The old-fashioned school is rehearsing for the Christmas enter- 
tainment. Funny from beginning to end. Time, 30 minutes. For 
any number of children. Price, 25 cents. 

CHRISTMAS EVE AT MULLIGAN'S By Marie Irish 

For all grades. 4 males, 5 females. Time, 30 minutes. A most 
unusual play. Plenty of wit and humor as well as more serious 
episodes. Sure to be a success. Price, 25 cents. 

CHRISTMAS SPEAKIN' AT SKAGGS' SKULE By Marie Irish 

A back woods school entertainment is featured. Easy to pre- 
pare and plenty of fun. For 6 boys and 8 girls. Time, 30 minutes. 
Price, 25 cents. 

IN A TOY SHOP By Effa E. Preston 

In rhyme. For 12 or more small children. A clever little play 
that will please. Time, 20 minutes. Price, 25 cents. 

THE REUNION AT PINE KNOT RANCH By Marie Irish 

For upper grades. 5 males and 6 females. Time, 30 minutes. 
Plenty of fun and a great surprise. Price, 25 cents. 

SNOWBOUND FOR CHRISTMAS By Marie Irish 

For 4 boys and 4 girls. For mixed grades. Time, 25 minutes. 
The older children play Santa Glaus for the younger ones. Price, 
25 cents. 

A STRIKE IN SANTA LAND By Effa E. Preston 

In rhyme. 8 boys, 7 girls. Time, 20 minutes. Very easy but 
effective. Price, 25 cents. 

A TOPSY-TURVY CHRISTMAS By Elizabeth F. Guptill 

Humorous. For any number of children under fourteen years 
of age. Time, 30 minutes. Price, 25 cents. 



PAINE PUBLISHING CO. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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